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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: last · tube · suit · fan · mug · cabinet · mark · spell

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. mug — to rob
  3. mug — a cup
  4. last — finally
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. mug — a face
  7. mark — a trace
  8. spell — letters
  9. last — final
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. last — to go on
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. tube — the underground
  18. suit — clothes
  19. suit — to fit
  20. tube — a container
  21. suit — in cards
  22. spell — a short time
  23. mark — a grade
  24. spell — magic

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com